What to Expect at Your Child's Occupational Therapy Evaluation
Every therapy journey at Lakeside begins with a comprehensive occupational therapy evaluation. It takes about 60 to 90 minutes, it looks a lot like play to your child, and you leave with a written report and a clear plan — whether or not you decide to continue with us.
Step 1 — The first conversation
Before anything is scheduled, we talk. You describe what you are seeing and what is hard at home or at school, and Janelle tells you honestly whether occupational therapy is likely to be the right fit.
Sometimes the answer is a referral somewhere else. That is a perfectly good outcome for a phone call, and we would rather tell you early than take an evaluation fee for something we cannot help with.
Step 2 — The evaluation
During the evaluation we will:
- Discuss your concerns and your goals for your child
- Review your child's developmental history
- Assess primitive reflexes, fine motor, visual-motor, sensory processing, strength, coordination, attention, and daily living skills
- Identify your child's strengths as well as their areas of need
- Develop an individualized treatment plan
- Answer your questions and explain every recommendation
To your child, most of this looks like playing. That is deliberate — children show you what they can actually do when they are engaged, not when they are being tested.
Step 3 — The written report
You receive a detailed written report with personalized recommendations and measurable goals, typically within 48 to 72 hours of the evaluation.
It is written to be usable — by you, by your child's pediatrician, and by their school team if you choose to share it.
Step 4 — Therapy
Sessions are typically 30 minutes, once a week. Some children benefit from longer sessions or a higher frequency, and the evaluation includes a recommendation.
Each session ends with a few minutes for you: what we worked on, what we noticed, and one specific thing to try before next week.
Step 5 — Reassessment
Goals are reviewed on a regular schedule and progress is measured against the goals set at the evaluation, not against a general impression.
When goals are met, we discharge. A practice that keeps children longer than they need is not doing its job.
What to bring
- Any previous evaluations or reports, including school evaluations or IEP documents
- A list of your child's current providers
- Comfortable clothes your child can move in
- If applicable, your Step Up For Students account information
Do we need a referral or a diagnosis?
No to both. You do not need a referral to book an evaluation with us, and your child does not need a diagnosis. Many of the children we see have no diagnosis at all — an occupational therapy evaluation assesses function, not diagnosis.
If you plan to seek out-of-network reimbursement from your insurer, they may require a physician referral. It is worth asking them before the evaluation.
Ready to start?
Call 352-552-8909 or send us a message. We will set up a short conversation first to hear what you are seeing and decide together whether an evaluation makes sense.